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Dispatches

A trek in the reserve

The big cat is doing well in the large core zone of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in spite of the considerable human presence in its vicinity. A trek in the reserve offers an abundance of animal signs and sightings.
A male tiger resting near the Moyar river.Photo: Vijayakumar, WWF-India
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The lush green Thengumarahada village on the bank of the Moyar river in the Nilgiris Eastern Slopes range, as seen from the top of the northern ridge.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph.Photo: Tamil Nadu forest Department and WWF-India
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The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph.Photo: Asasad sadsd
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A view of the Germalum range, which looks much like the Western Ghats.Photo: A.J.T. JOHNSINGH
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An ideal chowsingha habitat in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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Zizyphus mauritiana, the Indian plum tree. This one, at least 300 years old, with a girth measuring 363 centimetres, is pehaps the largest in south India.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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A male tiger in Dhimbam.Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
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Female tiger in the Moyar valley.Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
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Female tiger, Moyar valley.Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
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Female tiger, Moyar valley. According to I. Anwarruddin, Field Director, Sathyamangalam reserve, there are around 50 tigers in the reserve.Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
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The Moyar valley, where it is most likely that once the cheetah hunted the blackbuck.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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Cassia spectabilis, a problem species all through the moist areas of the lower Nilgiris.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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Prickly pear (Opuntia dillenii) and mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), the invasive plant species which reduce the quality of the blackbuck and chital habitat.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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The brown male blackbuck in the Moyar valley.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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Male chowsingha. Note the absence of the anterior pair of horns. The south Indian species is known to have only the well-developed posterior horns.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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The reintroduction of the chinkara will enhance the faunal diversity in the Sathyamangalam landscape.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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Chital doe and a sub-adult, Moyar valley.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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The Mysore Zoo accommodates 60 nilgai. To reintroduce the animal in the Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve, disease-free nilgai should be brought from the zoo.Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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